If I Could Tell You by W H Auden - Famous poems, famous poets. - All Poetry

If I Could Tell You

Time will say nothing but I told you so,
Time only knows the price we have to pay;
If I could tell you I would let you know.

If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,
Time will say nothing but I told you so.

There are no fortunes to be told, although,
Because I love you more than I can say,
If I could tell you I would let you know.

The winds must come from somewhere when they blow,
There must be reasons why the leaves decay;
Time will say nothing but I told you so.

Perhaps the roses really want to grow,
The vision seriously intends to stay;
If I could tell you I would let you know.

Suppose all the lions get up and go,
And all the brooks and soldiers run away;
Will Time say nothing but I told you so?
If I could tell you I would let you know.

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Kenny Wilson - Almost but not quite a Villanelle. Anyway and excellent poem.
Auden of course famously deserted the UK during Second World War against fascism and nazism and ran away to the USA... In his case the passage of time has been double edged.
on Jan 18 2023 04:51 AM PST   x  edit
Anna Mortis - One of my favourites.
on Sep 25 2019 09:10 PM PST   x  edit
Brett masters - just wonderful
on Sep 02 2016 08:25 PM PST   x  edit
Brett masters - have always loved this Auden poem
on Dec 01 2018 10:21 PM PST   x  edit
WanderingSophia - This poem still inspires wonder. Magnifique.
on Feb 19 2016 09:48 AM PST   x  edit
Zai Luna Fortuna - The thing is he can't tell you. He is not time. Only time can tell you. Bravo write.
on May 06 2014 04:55 AM PST   x  edit
Oct71952 - love
on Aug 05 2013 11:11 PM PST   x  edit
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That repetitive line "If I could tell you I would let you know' is irritating because indicates an undeclared  omniscience, which isn't surprising. Auden was a remarkable poet who, with Christopher Isherwood, left England for the US during WW2. Neither lacked confidence in their respective abilities and often collaborated in books and plays. 

on Feb 04 2013 11:11 PM PST   x  edit
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Joyce Emmanuel - love it soo much
keep it up.................
on Feb 04 2013 08:45 AM PST   x  edit
Katrina Taylor - What an imaginative, visionary poem! It takes me places. Your refrains "If I could tell you I would let you know" and "will time say nothing but I told you so" paint a hauntingly beautiful picture of life's hopes & disappointments. The imagery reminds me a little of the pictures taken by the character in the movie "American Beauty" the odd fellow who saw beauty in a plastic bag floating with the wind and captured it vividly on film.

Great work! Thank you!
on Feb 04 2013 07:37 AM PST   x  edit
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ICULookn - Billiant penned piece!!!!!! Enjoyable read..
on Feb 04 2013 07:36 AM PST   x  edit
H.Ayyashy -

Amazing! I Love it!

on Feb 04 2013 02:43 AM PST   x  edit

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